The Immaculate Conception Parish in Connellsville served as the backdrop for the first Summer Diocesan Drug Education and Prayer Service organized by Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic. The event was held on Tuesday, July 11 and was attended by more than 100 people from across the diocese that listened, learned and shared stories of how the opioid and heroin epidemic has touched them and their family.

Calling it a plague, Bishop Malesic cited that 319 people in the diocese died of an opioid overdose in 2016.

Several parishioners shared their personal stories of loss and struggle that have resulted from addiction.

The sessions will continue throughout the summer in the Greensburg diocese which is comprised of Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

Read and watch more from area news coverage of the evening by following these links: